April (St. Francis) Merrill 'happy it's all behind her,' lawyer says

Sep. 17, 2013

Free Press File Photo

Written by

JESSIE FORAND

Free Press Staff Writer

The state has dismissed charges against former St. Francis/Sokoki band of Abenakis Chief April (St. Francis) Merrill of Highgate.

Three counts of felony embezzlement were dismissed late last month, according to an official at Vermont Superior Court in St. Albans.

Merrill, then 43, who pleaded not guilty in June 2012 to charges of felony embezzlement, was accused of taking nearly $35,000 in tribal funds for her own use.

Court paperwork claimed that Merrill had taken money from tribal Christmas funds.

The former chief, who stepped down from her post in January 2012, is “happy it’s all behind her,” according to her lawyer, Peter Langrock, who issued a news release on the dismissal Tuesday morning.

Langrock noted that an investigation indicated Merrill had used tribal funds to buy certain items that were believed for personal use, but the purchases in question were justified.

Merrill diverted no tribal funds for her own use, Langrock said.

This is the second time the state has dropped charges against the former chief. In 2011, the state dismissed charges that Merrill had financially exploited Louis P. LaFrance, an elderly man from Highgate Center. Court papers claimed that Merrill had spent $30,697 of LaFrance’s money at that time.

Langrock said he is confident charges will not be brought again. There is no basis for bringing any allegations against Merrill for misappropriation of tribal money, he said.

In his statement, Langrock noted that Merrill “looks forward to having her reputation reestablished after having been tarnished by the now unproven charges.”

Many took the charges at “face value,” Langrock said, and Merrill was hurt emotionally and financially.

Franklin County State’s Attorney Jim Hughes, who prosecuted the case, was at court Tuesday morning and unavailable for comment.

Merrill and her husband had sued the Abenaki Self-Help Association Inc. in April 2012, claiming the couple overpaid the association for property in 2004.

In May, Judge Dennis Pearson had placed that case on hold until the criminal matter against Merrill was resolved.